1 Corinthians 16:21-22 (NKJV)

21 The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.

22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!

As Paul was finishing this letter to the church at Corinth, after all the teaching, correction and encouragement, he added a few personal touches. One was that he wrote this closing portion with his own hand. From other comments in his letters it appears that Paul had poor eyesight. The rest of the letter was evidently dictated but he thought it important enough to do the difficult task of writing this portion himself.

Verse 22 is something that Paul wanted the brethren to take very seriously. The believer’s relationship with Jesus is to be more than than having Him as Lord and Savior. We are required by the Father to love Jesus. If we refuse to do this, then God will cast us away from Him. Love is God’s nature and obedience without love is never acceptable to God.